Drain adaptor and method for directing water from a hose

ABSTRACT

A drain adaptor comprises a drain plate having a plurality of drainage apertures defined therethrough, with the drain plate being registrable with a floor drain in a floor. The drain plate has an upstream side and a downstream side, and at least one conduit extends from the upstream side of the drain plate. Each conduit has at least one fluid communication passage therethrough extending through the drain plate for guiding fluid through the drain plate, and the each conduit also has at least one receptacle located upstream of the drain plate for receiving the end of a hose.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/545,780 filed on Oct. 11, 2011, the teachings of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to appliances that discharge watersuitable for a residential drain, and more particularly, to the disposalof water released from such appliances.

BACKGROUND

Air-conditioning units, hot water tanks and other appliances producewater as a by-product and this water, which is evacuated from theseunits, needs to be disposed of For example, it is known, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, to use hoses 10 connected to an air-conditioning unit Ufor redirecting the water produced thereby into a drain 12 defined in afloor F and covered by a drain plate 14 perforated with a plurality ofholes 16. The hoses 10 are disposed onto the drain plate 14 such thatwater flowing from ends 18 of the hoses 10 is intended to fall, bygravity, into the drain 12.

A problem associated with such an arrangement is that water often flowson the floor around the drain 12 and drain plate 14, i.e. the water doesnot completely fall into the drain 12.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an improved way to dispose ofwater released by air-conditioning units and other appliances.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A drain adaptor comprises a drain plate having a plurality of drainageapertures defined therethrough, with the drain plate being registrablewith a floor drain in a floor. The drain plate has an upstream side anda downstream side, and at least one conduit extends from the upstreamside of the drain plate. Each conduit has at least one fluidcommunication passage therethrough extending through the drain plate forguiding fluid through the drain plate, and the each conduit also has atleast one receptacle located upstream of the drain plate for receivingan end of a hose.

In some embodiments, the conduit further extends from the downstreamside of the drain plate, and may form a drain basket extending from thedownstream side of the drain plate, with the drain basket having aplurality of additional drainage apertures defined therethrough.

The conduit may comprise a tubular body, with the drain plate comprisingan annular plate surrounding the tubular body and the at least onereceptacle comprising an opening defined in a sidewall of the tubularbody. The conduit may comprise, for example, a cylindrical tubular bodyor a rectangular tubular body.

Each conduit may comprise a hollow elbow extending from the upstreamside of the drain plate so that an upstream end of each elbow defines areceptacle.

In one embodiment, the drain plate includes at least one conduitaperture defined therethrough and a downstream end of each elbow isreleasably received in the at least one conduit aperture. In such anembodiment, a drain basket having a plurality of additional drainageapertures may extend from the downstream side of the drain plate,opposite the at least one conduit aperture. The entire drain plate maybe of monolithic construction.

In another embodiment, the drain plate comprises an inner portion and anannular outer portion surrounding the inner portion, with the outerportion and the inner portion being releasably interengagable with oneanother. In such embodiments, the at least one conduit may comprise atleast one elbow extending from an upstream side of the inner portion ofthe drain plate and an upstream end of each elbow may define areceptacle, and the at least one elbow and the inner portion of thedrain plate may be of monolithic construction. Such embodiments may alsoinclude a drain basket extending from the downstream side of the drainplate, which drain basket may be carried by the outer portion of thedrain plate. The drain basket may be of monolithic construction with theouter portion of the drain plate.

Methods for directing water from a hose into a drain covered by adrainage plate are also described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the followingdescription in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an air-conditioning unit and a known arrangement forguiding water released therefrom toward a floor drain;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a first exemplary embodiment of drainadaptor for directing water into a floor drain;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top and bottom plan views, respectively, of the drainadaptor of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 a to 6 f are a series of other representations of the drainadaptor of FIG. 3 and of variants thereof;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a second exemplary embodiment of adrain adaptor for directing water into a floor drain;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the drain adaptor of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 a to 9 f are a series of other representations of the drainadaptor of FIG. 7 and of variants thereof, with FIG. 9 a showing how thedrain adaptor fits into a drain;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of a drainadaptor for directing water into a floor drain;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of adrain adaptor for directing water into a floor drain;

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the drain adaptor of FIG. 11,showing an underside thereof and showing how the drain adaptor fits intoa drain;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are front elevation and bottom plan views, respectively,of the drain adaptor of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 15A to 15D show, respectively, top perspective, top plan, sideelevation and bottom perspective views of a fourth exemplary embodimentof a drain adaptor for directing water into a floor drain;

FIGS. 16A to 16D show, respectively, top perspective, side elevation,bottom plan and bottom perspective views of a first part of the drainadaptor of FIGS. 15A to 15D; and

FIGS. 17A to 17C show, respectively, top perspective, bottom perspectiveand side elevation views of a second part of the drain adaptor of FIGS.15A to 15D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIGS. 3 to 6F, which show a first exemplaryembodiment of a drain adaptor 20. The drain adaptor 20 comprises a drainplate 24 having a plurality of drainage apertures 26 definedtherethrough. The drain plate 24 will be placed in registration with afloor drain 12 in a floor F.

As can be seen from the flow of water droplets, the drain plate 24 hasan upstream side 24A and a downstream side 24B. A conduit 22 extendsfrom the upstream side 24A of the drain plate 24. The conduit 26 has afluid communication passage 31 therethrough, as shown by the flow ofwater droplets in dashed lines, and this fluid communication passage 31extends through the drain plate 24 for guiding fluid through the drainplate 24. The conduit 22 has a receptacle 28 located upstream of thedrain plate 24 for receiving an end 18 of a hose 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 f, the conduit 22 comprises atubular body and the drain plate 24 comprises an annular platesurrounding the tubular body, with the receptacle 28 formed by anopening defined in a sidewall 30 of the tubular body forming the conduit22. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the conduit 22 includes a top wall 36, aportion 34 that extends from the downstream side 24B of the drain plate24, and a bottom wall 40 perforated with drainage holes 38. The portion34 of the conduit 22 that extends from the downstream side 24B of thedrain plate 24 and cooperates with the bottom wall 40 to form a drainbasket 32

Therefore, water flowing from the hoses 10 into the drain adaptor 20 isdirected downwardly in the drain 12 by the conduit 22 of the drainadaptor 20. The drainage holes 26 of the annular plate 24 can assist indirecting water on the floor F (e.g. coming from sources other than theair-conditioning unit U) into the floor drain 12.

FIGS. 6 c to 6 e show variations 20′, 20″ in the size and in the shapeof the conduit. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 c, the conduit20 is substantially cylindrical, whereas in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 6 d to 6 e, the conduit 20′, 20″ comprises a rectangular tubularbody.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 to 9 d, in which a second exemplaryembodiment of a drain adaptor is indicated generally by referencenumeral 120.

The drain adaptor 120 comprises a drain plate 124 having a plurality ofdrainage apertures 126 defined therethrough, and the drain plate 124will be placed in registration with a floor drain 12 in a floor F. Thedrain plate 124 has an upstream side 124A and a downstream side 124B.Two conduits 122 extend from the upstream side 124A of the drain plate24. Each conduit 122 has a fluid communication passage 131 therethrough,and this fluid communication passage 131 extends through the drain plate124 for guiding fluid through the drain plate 124. The conduits 122 eachhave a receptacle 128 located upstream of the drain plate 124 forreceiving an end 18 of a hose 10.

Each conduit 122 comprises a hollow elbow 123 open at both ends 123A,123B and extending from the upstream side 124A of the drain plate 124.The receptacles 128 are formed by the upstream ends 123A of the elbows123. The drain plate 124 includes a conduit aperture 129 definedtherethrough, and the downstream end 123B of each elbow is releasablyreceived in the conduit aperture 129. A drain basket 132 having aplurality of additional drainage apertures 138 defined therethroughextends from the downstream side 124B of the drain plate 124, oppositethe conduit aperture 129. In one embodiment, the drain plate 124,including the drain basket 132, is of monolithic construction.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 c, the conduit aperture 129 hasa half-moon shape and the drain basket 132 is substantially cylindrical;as shown in FIGS. 9 d to 9 f, in other embodiments of a drain adaptor120′, 120″ the conduit aperture and the drain basket may have othershapes.

FIG. 10 shows a third embodiment of a drain adaptor, which is indicatedgenerally by reference numeral 220. The drain adaptor 220 comprises aplate 224 provided with a series of drainage apertures 226, used forallowing water on the floor F to reach the drain 12. Receptacles in theform of openings 225 are defined in the plate 224 so as to receivetherein the ends 18 of the hoses 10 and 10′. The plate 224 is adapted tobe laid on the floor F so as to be above the drain 12. The ends 18 ofthe hoses 10 and 10′ can be provided with elbows, such as elbows 123shown for drain adaptor 120, with the free ends thereof being fitted inthe openings 225.

Therefore, water flowing from the hoses 10 and 10′ into the drainadaptor 220 is directed downwardly in the drain 12 by the position ofthe ends 18 of the hoses 10 and 10′ within the openings 225. Thedrainage holes 226 of the plate 224 can assist in directing water on thefloor F (e.g. coming from sources other than the air-conditioning unitU) into the floor drain 12.

FIGS. 11 to 14 show a fourth embodiment of a drain adaptor, indicated byreference numeral 320. The drain adaptor 320 comprises a drain plate 324having a plurality of drainage apertures 326 defined therethrough, andthe drain plate 324 will be placed in registration with a floor drain 12in a floor. The drain plate 324 has an upstream side 324A and adownstream side 324B. A cylindrical conduit 322 extends from theupstream side 324A of the drain plate 324, and is only slightly smallerin diameter than the circular drain plate 324 so that the drain plateforms an annular flange around the conduit 322, with no drainageapertures in the annular flange. The conduit 322 has a fluidcommunication passage 331 therethrough, and this fluid communicationpassage 331 extends through the drain plate 324 by cooperation with thedrainage apertures 326 disposed interiorly of the conduit 322. Theconduit 322 has a receptacle 328 located upstream of the drain plate 324for receiving an end 18 of a hose 10. A post 333 assists in retainingthe ends 18 of the hoses 10 in the receptacle 328.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 15A to 17C, which show another embodimentof a drain adaptor, indicated generally by reference 420. Like the otherdrain adaptors described above, the drain adaptor 420 comprises a drainplate 424 having a plurality of drainage apertures 426 definedtherethrough, and the drain plate 424 is adapted to be received inregistration with a floor drain in a floor by registering with the floordrain. Two conduits 422 extend from the upstream side 424A of the drainplate 424, and each conduit 422 has a fluid communication passage 431therethrough and extending through the drain plate 424 for guiding fluidthrough the drain plate 424. Each conduit 422 has a receptacle 428located upstream of the drainage plate 424 for receiving the end of ahose.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15A to 17C, the drain plate 424comprises an inner portion 452 and an annular outer portion 454surrounding the inner portion 452, with the outer portion 454 and theinner portion 452 being releasably interengagable with one another andbeing able to rotate relative to one another. The inner portion 452 andthe outer portion 454 cooperate to from the complete drain plate 424,and the upstream surfaces 452A, 454A and downstream surfaces 452B, 454Bare in registration with one another.

The conduits 422 each comprise a hollow elbow 423 open at both ends423A, 423B and extending from the upstream side 452A of the innerportion 452 of the drain plate 424. The upstream end 423A of each elbow423 defines one of the receptacles 428. The downstream end 423B of theelbow 423 opens on the downstream side 452B of the inner portion 452 ofthe drain plate 424 to complete the conduit 422. In the embodiment shownin FIGS. 15A to 17C, the elbows 423 that form the conduits 422 are ofmonolithic construction with the inner portion 452 of the drainage plate424.

A drain basket 432 extends from the downstream side of the drain plate424, and has a plurality of additional drainage apertures 438 definedtherethrough. The drain basket 432 is carried by the outer portion 454of the drain plate 424, and may be of monolithic construction with theouter portion 454 of the drain plate 424.

Although the embodiments described an illustrated above have shown thedrain plates as being substantially planar, drain plates used in drainadaptors as described herein may have other shapes, such as being convexrelative to the drain.

Embodiments having one and two conduits have been shown and described;other embodiments may include three or more conduits. The conduits mayhave shapes other than the specific shapes shown and described herein,and in some embodiments a single conduit may include one or moreinternal dividers so as to provide multiple fluid communication passagesin a single conduit. A single conduit may include multiple receptacles.

Drain adaptors such as those described above may be used to implement amethod for directing water from a hose into a drain covered by adrainage plate. The method comprises coupling an end of the hose to aconduit that defines a fluid communication passage through the drainageplate for guiding fluid through the drainage plate. Another method fordirecting water from a hose into a drain may comprise installing a drainadaptor in registration with a floor drain in a floor, in which thedrain adaptor comprises a drain plate having an upstream side and adownstream side, at least one conduit extending from the upstream sideof the drain plate, the at least one conduit defining a fluidcommunication path through the drainage plate for guiding fluid past thedownstream side of the drain plate, and the at least one conduit has atleast one receptacle located upstream of the drain plate. The methodfurther comprises coupling an end of the hose to the at least onereceptacle to place the end in fluid communication with the at least oneconduit.

Several exemplary embodiments have been described by way of example. Itwill be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a number ofvariations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drain adaptor, comprising: a drain plate havinga plurality of drainage apertures defined therethrough; the drain plateregistrable with a floor drain in a floor; the drain plate having anupstream side and a downstream side; at least one conduit extending fromthe upstream side of the drain plate; the at least one conduit having atleast one fluid communication passage therethrough, the at least onefluid communication passage extending through the drain plate forguiding fluid through the drain plate; and the at least one conduithaving at least one receptacle located upstream of the drain plate forreceiving an end of a hose.
 2. The drain adaptor of claim 1, wherein theat least one conduit further extends from the downstream side of thedrain plate.
 3. The drain adaptor of claim 2, wherein the conduitfurther extends from the downstream side of the drain plate to form adrain basket extending from the downstream side of the drain plate, thedrain basket having a plurality of additional drainage apertures definedtherethrough.
 4. The drain adaptor of claim 2, wherein: the at least oneconduit comprises a single tubular body; the drain plate comprises anannular plate surrounding the tubular body; and the at least onereceptacle comprises an opening defined in a sidewall of the tubularbody.
 5. The drain adaptor of claim 4, wherein the conduit comprises acylindrical tubular body.
 6. The drain adaptor of claim 4, wherein theconduit comprises a rectangular tubular body.
 7. The drain adaptor ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one conduit comprises at least one hollowelbow extending from the upstream side of the drain plate and anupstream end of each elbow defines one of the at least one receptacle.8. The drain adaptor of claim 7, wherein: the drain plate includes atleast one conduit aperture defined therethrough; and a downstream end ofeach elbow is releasably received in the at least one conduit aperture.9. The drain adaptor of claim 8, wherein: a drain basket extends fromthe downstream side of the drain plate, opposite the at least oneconduit aperture; the drain basket having a plurality of additionaldrainage apertures defined therethrough.
 10. The drain adaptor of claim1, wherein the drain plate is of monolithic construction.
 11. The drainadaptor of claim 1, wherein: the drain plate comprises an inner portionand an annular outer portion surrounding the inner portion; the outerportion and the inner portion being releasably interengagable with oneanother.
 12. The drain adaptor of claim 11, wherein: the at least oneconduit comprises at least one hollow elbow extending from an upstreamside of the inner portion of the drain plate and an upstream end of eachelbow defines one of the at least one receptacle.
 13. The drain adaptorof claim 12, wherein the at least one elbow and the inner portion of thedrain plate are of monolithic construction.
 14. The drain adaptor ofclaim 13, wherein: a drain basket extends from the downstream side ofthe drain plate; and the drain basket has a plurality of additionaldrainage apertures defined therethrough.
 15. The drain adaptor of claim13, wherein the drain basket is carried by the outer portion of thedrain plate.
 16. The drain adaptor of claim 14, wherein the drain basketis of monolithic construction with the outer portion of the drain plate.17. A method for directing water from a hose into a drain covered by adrainage plate, comprising: coupling an end of the hose to a conduitthat defines a fluid communication passage through the drainage platefor guiding fluid through the drainage plate.
 18. A method for directingwater from a hose into a drain, comprising: installing a drain adaptorin registration with a floor drain in a floor; wherein the drain adaptorcomprises: a drain plate having an upstream side and a downstream side;at least one conduit extending from the upstream side of the drainplate; the at least one conduit defining a fluid communication paththrough the drainage plate for guiding fluid past the downstream side ofthe drain plate; and the at least one conduit having at least onereceptacle located upstream of the drain plate; and coupling an end ofthe hose to the at least one receptacle to place the end of the hose influid communication with the at least one conduit.